Kayode Oni is an accomplished finance analyst with a proven track record of accounting and consulting. Experienced in finance, accounting, financial analysis, investment appraisal, tax laws and regulations, consulting, project management, and data analytics, Kayode is a valuable asset in the financial sector at Kreston Pedabo.
With over 12 years of experience spanning diverse sectors such as financial services, real estate & hospitality, consumer markets, and oil & gas, Tyna Adediran is a resourceful and self-motivated Business Analyst and Management Consultant. Specialising in areas like Strategy Design & Execution, Project Management, and SME Transformation, she is known for her strong skills in data collection, diagnostics, and critical thinking. Beyond her professional expertise, Tyna is a passionate advocate for continuous learning, sustainable business practices, and youth empowerment, reflecting her commitment to making a positive impact on both the business world and society at large.
Kreston Pedabo on Africa Industrialisation Day
November 20, 2023
Sector: Energy
Agenda 2063 is Africa‘s development blueprint for inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic growth and development. African Heads of State and Governments adopted the continental agenda during the golden jubilee celebrations of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)/African Union (AU) in May 2013. Agenda 2063 seeks to deliver on seven development aspirations, each with its own goals to move Africa closer to achieving “The Africa We Want.”
The blueprint contains key activities to be carried out in five Ten-Year implementation plans, ensuring that Agenda 2063 delivers quantitative and qualitative transformational outcomes for Africa’s people over a 50-year timeframe.
Agenda 2063
The implementation of Agenda 2063 at continental, regional, and national levels has progressed steadily during the reporting period. This is attributed to remarkable progress and achievements made towards the realisation of several goals and targets of the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063.
The data in the second continental progress report on the implementation of Agenda 2063 indicates that Nigeria has achieved a 40% score concerning the goals set for the seven development aspirations. This marks a significant increase of 208%, up from the 13% recorded in the first continental progress report on implementing Agenda 2063.
Key areas where Nigeria has contributed significantly to the implementation of Agenda 2063 include:
- Increased access to internet and electricity
- Reduced under-five mortality rate
- Increased access to anti-retroviral treatment
- Increased women’s access to sexual and reproductive health services
- Reduced prevalence of underweight among under-five children
- Reduced the proportion of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the national budget
- Reduced unemployment rates
- Increased real GDP per capita and annual GDP growth rates
- Increased enrolment in pre-primary, primary and secondary schools
- Increase in the proportion of the population with access to safe drinking water and safely managed sanitation services.
- Increase in the share of manufacturing in GDP.
Key beneficial legislation for international businesses
No specific, unified legislation applies to all international businesses looking to expand into Africa. The legal landscape in Africa is diverse, and each country has its own set of laws, regulations, and policies governing international business activities.
However, some regional economic communities in Africa/Trade blocs, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), have taken steps to harmonise certain aspects of business laws among member states to facilitate trade and investment.
International businesses aiming to expand into Africa typically need to navigate a range of legal considerations, including investment laws, taxation, employment laws, industry-specific regulations, trade agreements, intellectual property laws, and local content laws, among others.
Businesses must conduct thorough due diligence and seek legal advice tailored to the country or countries in which they plan to operate. Additionally, regulations and business environments can change, so it is advisable to consult legal experts with the most recent and relevant information.
A focus on Nigeria
In Nigeria, however, efforts have been made to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) through its investment promotion agency, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC). The NIPC Act provides the legal framework for investments in Nigeria and incentivises investors in various sectors.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has adopted rigorous efforts to ensure that areas of concern for foreign investors, such as bureaucratic red tapes, incorporation processes, taxation, capital repatriation, and visa policies, are relaxed to the fullest extent possible to open up Nigeria’s economy to fair competition and prosperity.
Consequently, in line with the NIPC Act 22, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission regularly consults with crucial Government agencies to negotiate specific incentive packages in identified strategic areas of investment interest. These consultations have led to an increasingly attractive business environment with tax holidays for pioneer companies producing exportable goods, newly established industries in manufacturing, or expansion of production in sectors vital to the economy. The Government also grants non-tax incentives to non-pioneer firms in addition to industry-specific incentives.
NIPC Act
Section 24 of the NIPC Act provides that a foreign investor in an enterprise to which the Act applies shall be guaranteed unconditional transferability of funds through an authorised dealer in a freely convertible currency of:
- dividends or profits (net of taxes) attributable to the investment;
- Payments in respect of loan servicing where a foreign loan has been obtained; and
- The remittances of proceeds (net of all taxes) and other obligations in the case of the sale or liquidation of the enterprise or any interest attributable to the investment.
Foreign Trade Zones
Foreign investors can set up businesses directly in Free Trade Zones (FTZs) without incorporating a company in the customs territory. Registered companies may also apply as a separate entity to operate in an FTZ that would append the company’s name with the FZE (Free Zone Enterprise) suffix to gain the FTZ benefits.
FTZ incentives include:
- Exemption from all Federal, State, and Local Government Taxes, Rates, and Levies.
- Duty-free importation of capital goods, machinery/components, spare parts, raw materials, and consumable items in the zones.
- 100% foreign ownership of investments.
- 100% repatriation of capital, profits, and dividends.
- Waiver of all import and export licenses.
- One-stop approvals for permits, operating licenses, and incorporation papers.
- Permission to sell 100% of goods into the domestic market (in which case applicable customs duty on imported raw materials shall apply).
- For prohibited items in the customs territory, free zone goods are allowed for sale provided such goods meet the requirement of up to 35% domestic value addition.
- Rent-free land during the first 6 months of construction (for Government-owned zones).
